SIFE hosts business competition at WT

This is the second year that WTAMU’s SIFE program has sponsored the Moses Business Plan competition. The top three winners were all awarded by funds given by WTAMU alum Harold Moses, who started to fund the prizes because he felt that creative business savvy students who wanted to start their own businesses needed to heighten their awareness and abilities when it came to business plans, ideas and dealing with investors.

“It’s a practical application of inventing an idea and wrapping a business plan around it,” David Terry, executive director of business services at WT, said.

This year, Business major Vitaliy Skorodziyevskiy won the competition with his business plan about a computer repair business. Junior marketing major Miriam Shattuck won third place with her business plan of a retail store called Go Figure Mommy, which would deal with maternity wear.

“I was glad I was able to get the experience and the knowledge I learned,” said Shattuck. “This is something I would honestly like to pursue further down the line, and the overall experience was great.”
The Business Plan Competition required each contestant to attend a How to Write a Business Plan session hosted by Terry.

“Helping provide the concepts and helping young entrepreneurs to grow is why God put me on this planet,” Terry said. “I was really excited to host the sessions. Great crowds came in. It’s a great program, and even greater opportunities.”

Dana Versmessen, senior International Business major, submitted a Pool Buddy business plan, which is a pool security system.

“It was really fun, but more importantly, really helpful,” she said. “It helped me figure out what I need to work on next time around.”